Nine out of ten schools to close due to strikes

With less than 24 hours to go until the national walkout by public sector workers, the scale of disruption to schools is becoming clear.

Education Secretary Michael Gove has estimated that up to nine in 10 schools in England will close their doors tomorrow as teachers and heads take to picket lines.

Many councils are posting lists of closures and part closures on their websites to keep parents informed.

Three major teachers' unions, the National Union of Teachers (NUT), the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) and the NASUWT, along with the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) and the University and College Union (UCU), are taking part in the TUC's day of action over the Government's changes to public sector pensions.

Together, they represent tens of thousands of teachers, school leaders and university lecturers.

ATL general secretary Dr Mary Bousted said it was with "deep regret and reluctance" that her members were taking action.

"ATL members do not want to go on strike, they would much rather be in their classrooms with their students," she said.

"But the Government has pushed them into this extreme action by refusing to treat them fairly or negotiate seriously for over 10 months.

"My members don't want to disrupt young people's education even for one day, but they know and fear that the Government's plans will do damage long-term to young people's education.

"The best young graduates will choose other professions, young teachers and those with young families won't be able to afford to join or stay in the pension scheme, it will become even harder to recruit heads, and older teachers will retire early."

Figures from around the country show the numbers of closures so far, although these are expected to increase.

So far, 100 schools have informed Cumbria County Council they will be shut, with a further five partly closed.

In Gateshead, 63 primary schools are due to shut, with two open for limited numbers of pupils, while in Sheffield, just 11 are expected to remain fully open. Around 122 schools in the city will be closed.

In Doncaster, 99 schools have notified the council of their intention to close, while Stockport council's website indicates they will see 87 shut and 17 partly closed.

A Stockport spokesman said: "Unless there is a late change, the council expects there will be some disruption to a range of services."

Thirty-six out of 42 primaries in Middlesbrough are due to close, a further two will be partially open, while two out of four secondaries and five out of seven special schools will shut.

Oldham Council's website suggests that 92 schools will not be open to pupils.